Passenger still critical in U.S. 258 crash

Published: Tuesday, December 11, 2012 at 06:45 PM.

A crash early Monday afternoon that has left one person in critical condition may lead to a change in the traffic lighting at the Onslow County intersection.

Trooper M.P. Jones of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol said that at around 12:46 p.m., Jonathan Guzman, 18, of Futrell Loop Road in Richlands was traveling northwest in a white Ford Mustang. Guzman was in the center turn lane of U.S. 258, attempting to make a left turn onto N.C. 111.

Guzman’s vehicle turned directly in front of a silver Chevrolet Impala, driven by Robert Holcomb Jr., 25, of McGowan Road in Jacksonville, that was traveling southeast on U.S. 258.

“I believe there were several vehicles turning onto N.C. 111,” Jones said. “They were probably following the vehicle in front of them and saw the Impala too late.”

Jones said the Impala hit the Mustang in the right front quarter panel and the front passenger door.

“It was a pretty serious collision,” he said. “The driver of the Impala was doing the speed limit and didn’t have time to hit his brakes. It was basically a 55-mph impact.”

Jones said Holcomb was transported by Onslow EMS to Onslow Memorial Hospital where he was treated and released. Guzman and his passenger in the Mustang were airlifted to New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington. The name of the passenger has not been released to the media because of his condition. The passenger, 25, is still in critical condition at New Hanover, according to Jones. Guzman, who had non-life-threatening injuries, is stable.

A crash early Monday afternoon that has left one person in critical condition may lead to a change in the traffic lighting at the Onslow County intersection.

Trooper M.P. Jones of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol said that at around 12:46 p.m., Jonathan Guzman, 18, of Futrell Loop Road in Richlands was traveling northwest in a white Ford Mustang. Guzman was in the center turn lane of U.S. 258, attempting to make a left turn onto N.C. 111.

Guzman’s vehicle turned directly in front of a silver Chevrolet Impala, driven by Robert Holcomb Jr., 25, of McGowan Road in Jacksonville, that was traveling southeast on U.S. 258.

“I believe there were several vehicles turning onto N.C. 111,” Jones said. “They were probably following the vehicle in front of them and saw the Impala too late.”

Jones said the Impala hit the Mustang in the right front quarter panel and the front passenger door.

“It was a pretty serious collision,” he said. “The driver of the Impala was doing the speed limit and didn’t have time to hit his brakes. It was basically a 55-mph impact.”

Jones said Holcomb was transported by Onslow EMS to Onslow Memorial Hospital where he was treated and released. Guzman and his passenger in the Mustang were airlifted to New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington. The name of the passenger has not been released to the media because of his condition. The passenger, 25, is still in critical condition at New Hanover, according to Jones. Guzman, who had non-life-threatening injuries, is stable.

Jones said Holcomb was not at fault, and citations are pending for the crash.

“The only charge I see pending right now is failure to yield the right of way,” he said.

The trooper believes that the North Carolina Department of Transportation will now get involved with the intersection at U.S. 258 and N.C. 111. Jones said the light at the intersection lacks a turning arrow to safely allow cars to freely turn onto N.C. 111 without having to fight oncoming traffic.

“U.S. 258 is a five-lane highway,” Jones said. “In the turn lane, you still have to heed to oncoming traffic. You’re chancing the left turn if you’re in a hurry. That’s going to happen in an intersection like this.”

Jones said that NCDOT was on scene Monday and asked what could be done to help. Jones suggested a left turn arrow for the turn onto N.C. 111.

“Maybe that will get done now,” he said.

Calls to NCDOT inquiring about possible changes to the intersection were not immediately returned.

Contact Daily News Reporter Tabitha Clark at 910-219-8454 or Tabitha.Clark@jdnews.com. Follow her on Twitter at @TabithaLClark or friend her on Facebook.